§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will take into account the Airbus Industrie partners' track record of delivering military aircraft programmes in the assessment of the A400M proposal; [111339]
(2) what account has been taken of Airbus Industrie's track record of delivering aircraft (a) on time, (b) on specification and (c) to cost in the assessment of the A400M proposal; [111338]
(3) how many A400Ms would have to be ordered by his Department for a viable programme to be sustained. [111336]
§ Dr. MoonieThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from John Howe to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 28 February 2000:
I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence in which you asked if he will take into account the Airbus Industrie partners' track record of delivering military aircraft programmes in the assessment of the A400M proposal; what account has been taken of Airbus Industrie's track record of delivering aircraft on time, on specification and to cost in the assessment of the A400M proposal; and how many A400Ms would have to be ordered by his Department for a viable programme to be sustained. These matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.I can confirm that our assessment will take account of the track records both of Airbus Industrie itself, and, in the military sector, of the Airbus Industrie partners.The viability of the A400 programme will depend on the offtake of several nations. We continue to discuss with our partners and Airbus Military the effect of the total offtake on visibility and costs.Since there is a competition in being it would be inappropriate for me to go into detail at this time. We continue to aim to announce a decision on this programme in the early part of this year.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact upon the United Kingdom's defence collaboration and wider strategic relations with other European partner nations should the A400M programme not proceed. [111337]
§ Dr. MoonieIn deciding how to meet our future air transport requirements, we will take into account a range of factors, among which will be any implications for our international defence relations.